State panel rejects landfill expansion

CHICAGO - A state panel has unanimously affirmed the Peoria County Board's decision last year to reject a proposed expansion of the hazardous-waste landfill in Pottstown.

Mike Ramsey

CHICAGO - A state panel has unanimously affirmed the Peoria County Board's decision last year to reject a proposed expansion of the hazardous-waste landfill in Pottstown.

With no discussion, the Illinois Pollution Control Board voted 4-0 Thursday to reject an appeal filed by Peoria Disposal Co., which operates the dump near Peoria. Board member Nicholas Melas, in announcing the order, said county officials took "timely action" and were "fundamentally fair" in considering the company's expansion proposal.

Members of the state panel could have overruled the Peoria County Board or sent the case back to the local level for reconsideration.

"Obviously, we are very pleased by the decision," Peoria County Administrator Patrick Urich said. He said the county's review of the landfill expansion "was arguably the most fair and open and deliberative public policy debate that the Peoria County community has seen in many years."

Peoria Disposal attorney Brian Meginnes said company owners were disappointed with Thursday's ruling and intended to file an appeal with the state appellate court - a legal process that could take another year.

Over the objections of environmental activists, Peoria Disposal had sought to increase its landfill capacity by 2.2 million tons and extend the facility's lifespan by about 15 years. The county board voted 12-6 in May 2006 to refuse the application, prompting the company to petition the state pollution panel.

Peoria County officials had been discussing a scaled-back expansion plan with landfill owners. But compromise talks stopped in May, Meginnes said.

Attorney Dave Wentworth -- representing Peoria Families Against Toxic Waste and the Sierra Club Heart of Illinois Group - expressed relief. The two organizations opposed the landfill-growth plan.

"We're gratified that the thoughtful expertise of the Pollution Control Board affirmed the deliberative and well-thought-out original decision by a large majority of the Peoria County Board," Wentworth said.

Peoria Disposal can file another application with the county board in November because two years will have elapsed since the original expansion proposal was submitted, Urich said.
Mike Ramsey can be reached at (312) 857-2323 or ghns-ramsey@sbcglobal.net.